Questions About Catholicism

[jasJis]

[quote name='Sterling' date='Sep 9 2004, 08:14 PM'] ARG. I know that i said i would get back to this like 2 weeks ago ,but you know how life is....

Anyway, I think i understand the confession thing now, thanks to all of you i found all that yummy scripture about confessing to your fellow Christians, and how that gives you a sense of accountability. I do not, however, believe that the priest can grant you forgiveness, that power belongs in the hands of God.
... I think that you people have truly given me a deeper respect and understanding of the Catholic faith.

Rock on Catholics!

Sterling [/quote]
Sterling,
I'm glad you are making progress in understanding Catholicism. But you are still missing some of the things we are saying. I'll leave the Purgatory thing alone, but I'd like to address Confession/Reconcilliation. A Catholic will use either term to describe that Sacrament, but most commonly we call it Confession. It's purpose is to Reconcile our relationship with God, Confession is what we do to accomplish that. Priests forgive sin only because God is doing it with them.

For a good anlogy, consider forgiving sin as giving us a cleaning spray that washes away our sin. The priest sprays us when we go to him and we leave clean and sin free. The deeper question is where does the priest get this spray? What is it made up of? The answer is God makes the spray. The spray is made of God's Mercy and Power and Love. When Jesus told the Apostles to go and forgive sins in His Name, Jesus gave them the Spray. The Apostles can't make it by themselves. The prists can't make it by themselves. God provides it all and allows the Apostles, and then the priests to use it in His Name. Not because God can't make the spray fall like rain from heaven, but to make it comprehnsible and more understandible to use by using humans to spray us. It's God's Power that He has authorized the Apostles (and then the priests by appointment through the ages) to work His Will for our convenience). Remember, God is Sophisticated, but relates to us spiritually in our simple earthly terms.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='Sterling' date='Sep 9 2004, 10:14 PM'] ARG. I know that i said i would get back to this like 2 weeks ago ,but you know how life is....

Anyway, I think i understand the confession thing now, thanks to all of you i found all that yummy scripture about confessing to your fellow Christians, and how that gives you a sense of accountability. I do not, however, believe that the priest can grant you forgiveness, that power belongs in the hands of God.
Don't get me wrong, i really appreciate all of your replies concerning Purgatory, but i still don’t believe in the concept. I think that Purgatory is based on some pretty far stretched interpretations (but then again, what denomination doesn’t base at least some of their beliefs on some pretty stretched interpretations?)
I would really like to say a few more things, but i need to go study for a Pre-Calculus test So thank you all once again for all your time spent on these posts. I think that you people have truly given me a deeper respect and understanding of the Catholic faith.

Rock on Catholics!

Sterling [/quote]
Sterling, the priest says "I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

The priest is the instrument of God's forgiveness, but only God forgives sins. The priest is acting in his name.

The concept of Purgatory is not stretched-out doctrine , it is what the Church has taught for 2000 years. Nothing impure can stand before God. So our souls need the least stain of sin removed before God can say "Good job" and "you are worthy to enter the kingdom". It is akin to washing and putting on fine clothing to be ready for the heavenly banquet.
Simple common sense.